C-17 GLOBEMASTER III
The US DoD and Congress have approved a multi-year procurement for 80 additional C-17s for the USAF. This brings the planned fleet total to 120 aircraft by 2005. The decision followed the successful conclusion of a reliability, maintainability and availability demonstration concluded in August 1995 and involving the first squadron of 12 aircraft. By October 1996. 28 of the first 40 aircraft had been delivered.
F-15 EAGLE
The last of 209 F-15E strike aircraft for USAF was delivered in July 1994, but production was resumed to fulfil orders from Saudi Arabia for 72 F-15Ss and from Israel for 21 F-15Is. The first Saudi aircraft was delivered in September 1995.
MDC has submitted a proposal to restart F-15E production for the USAF, at a cost of $50m or less per aircraft. The USAF has stated a requirement for additional aircraft.
The F-15E carries Lockheed Martin LANTIRN night navigation and targeting pods and the Hughes APG-70 radar is capable of high-resolution synthetic-aperture ground mapping.
F/A-18 HORNET
MDC rolled out the first improved F-18E/F on 18 September, 1995,.with a first flight in November. The USN plans to acquire 1,000 F-18E/Fs to replace early F-18A/Bs and Grumman F-14s. Initial operational capability is planned for 2004.
The E/F is a structural upgrade of the F-18 and is 25% larger, with 33% more internal fuel and 35% higher thrust than for the C/D. The aircraft is powered by two GE F414s. Radar signature is reduced.
Delivery of 64 F-18C/Ds to Finland has begun, to be followed by the delivery of 34 F-18C/Ds to Switzerland and eight two-seat night-attack F-18Ds to Malaysia. These aircraft have uprated GE F404-402 engines and improved Hughes APG-73 radar. Thailand has indicated its intention to purchase 18 F-18Ds. Development of an RF-18D reconnaissance variant for the US Marine Corps continues.
KC-10 EXTENDER
Production of the tanker/transport version of the DC-10 tri-jet airliner ended after 60 were built for the USAF, but MDC and KLM have converted two ex-Martinair DC-10-30CFs to KDC-10 tanker/ transports for the Royal Netherlands air force.
Source: Flight International
